Geography: The highest point in Ukraine is Hora Hoverla in the Carpathian Mountains (2,061 meters high); the lowest is the Black Sea (at sea level). The total area of Ukraine is 603,700 square kilometers (slightly smaller than the US state of Texas); Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe. There are 2,782 kilometers of coastline. This large country is bordered by Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.

Independence: Independence from the Soviet Union was achieved for Ukraine in August, 24 1991 (when the USSR came apart). Ukrainian Independence Day is celebrated on August 24 each year.

Flag: The flag of Ukraine is a blue and golden-yellow horizontal bicolor that was adopted in 1992.